The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-05-06

s"t"e' 11is piuc eyes. MS features
and manners wore an exquisite ex-
preston 81 timidiiy. gentleness and
good will. On certain happily-<iclin-
Gated features the eye dwells with
pleasure. and his was one of these.
You experienced an invincible attrac-
tion towards the little old man. and
his serene countenance could not fail
TO provoke endcarment. He was
dressed In black. and carried walk
ing-stick.
Bowling. a. he entered the room, =
broad tonsurc revealed that he was .
priest.
Dupuytren's eye fixed itself upon
him. sullen and frozen.
whats your caseP" asked be. stern
~.
Doctor" softly began the priest.
II must ask Of you 10 let me sit down;
my poor old legs are getting rather
weak. Two years ago swelling came
in my neck. The medical officer Of the
village. near Nemours. where am set
tied, told me that the abscess was Of
no account and would soon be gone;
but 1t got worse. and five months later
burst Of itself. kept to my bed leng
while without finding relief. The fact
Is that was Obliged to get up now and
then. as have to perform unassisted
the parochial duties Of four villages.
and
"Show me your neck"
Its not. continued the old man,
as he hurried TO obey the doctors be-
hest, ''that these good people are un-
willing to meet elsewhere to hear mass
but, you see. they have hard time Of
| il during the whole week and only
Gods day TO rest upon; 50 thought it
unfair that the whole village should be
put to Inconvenience on my account.
Then. again. we have confirmation and
catechism. The Bishop hesitated to
send curatc to help me. So. doctor.
my practitioners all said that must
come up to Paris and consult you.
was long while before made up my
mind; travelling costs great deal Of
money. and there are so many poor
people in my commune; but finally
was obliged to do their bidding. and 50
took the conveyance. There is my
sore. DOCTOR added he. rendering his
neck.
Dupuytren was long time in his ex-
animation Of the affected part. The
sick mans neck had in 1t hole nearly
one inch in diameter and Of great
depth. II was an anthrax OF the lower
maxillary gland. complicated with
ancurism Of the carotid artery. The
wound showed symptoms Of gangrene
in more than one spot. and the case
was altogether Of SO grave descrip-
ton that Dupuytrcn wondered how the
sick man could be standing upright be-
fore him.
He stretched wide open the lips Of
the sore and scrutinizcd il inside with
pressure painful enough to superin-
ducc fainting. The patient did not
even vince. The examination con-
cluded. Dupuytren roughly jcrked
round the old mans head which he
held in his hands. and. peering him full
in the farce. burst out ficndishly:
"Ah! all! Mister Able. with a sore
like that must dier'
At this, the priest quietly took up
his linen and bandaged his neck with
out uttering word. Dupuytrcn kept
his eye on him As 4 tiger might on
lamb. When the aged priest had
dressed his wound. he drew from his
pocket large silver fivc-franc piece.
carefully wrapped up in Bit Of paper.
and laid il on the mantle shelf
Il am not rich, and my poor are
very poor, Doctor said he. with an
inctfablc smile; excuse me II l can
not more adequately repay a consulta-
tion Of DIR. Dupuytren. ! am glad !
came to sec you; at least, shall be
prepared for what awaits me. Per-
haps,' he added. in An extre mely soft
tone Of voice, you might have an
nounced this great fact with little
more caution. am scvcnty-five years
old, and at that age life is sometimes
dearly cherished. But ! owe you no
ill-will, nor have YOU surprised me; l
have looked forward to that event.
Farwcli. doctor. ! am going to die at
my presbytery."
And he went out
Dupuytren stood pcnsive. That iron
soul, that powerful genius had been
shattered like frail glass at the sound
Of a few simple words from poor old
man whom he had held feeble and suf-
fering in his strong hands, and thought
he might play with. In that weak and
distressed body he had met with will
more energetic and heart tirmer than
his own; he had found being supc-
rior 10 himself.
Suddenly. Dupuytrcn started to-
wards the door. He was perhaps IN
willing as yet to acknowledge himself
beaten. The little priest was slowly
descending the staircase.
= Mister Able" he called out; evil
you step up momentP'
The priest FASTENED to obey.
There Is perhaps means Of saving
you, II you consent to an operation